D K Bharatsimha Reddy, husband of former Congress Minister DK Aruna has been ordered by the Hyderabad High court to pay a penalty of Rs. 33 crore for illegal sand mining operations in the Mahbubnagar district. He has also been asked to stop all quarrying activity in the region.

The court dismissed his plea for stay on the notice by the state mining department for payment of the penalties in view of rapid illegal sand mining activity by his company during the Congress regime.

The Court challenged the state government asking if it will collect the arrears or the court has to undertake a method to collect on its own.